Knight Chair in Investigative & Enterprise Reporting
Finding problems facing small cities — continued
Survey data and demographics
ALBERT LEA, MINN.
Population: 18,356
Median resident age: 41
Estimated median annual household income: $32,841
Unemployment rate: 5.6%
High school education or higher: 78%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.8%
Currently married: 54.9%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Traffic, roads and parking
3. Property upkeep
4. Economy and business
5. Taxes
5. Public safety
Number of public comments: 186
BEAVER DAM, WIS.
Population: 15,169
Median resident age: 37.3
Estimated median annual household income: $37,873
Unemployment rate: 4.8%
High school education or higher: 82.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16%
Currently married: 53%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Traffic, roads and parking
3. Downtown
3. Property upkeep
Number of public comments: 6
LOGANSPORT, IND.
Population: 19,684
Median resident age: 34.5
Estimated median annual household income: $33,483
Unemployment rate: 5.5%
High school education or higher: 75.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 9.9%
Currently married: 49.5%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Schools
3. Other
4. Economy and business
5. Environment
Number of public comments: 10
MOUNT VERNON, ILL.
Population: 16,269
Median resident age: 38.3
Estimated median annual household income: $28,145
Unemployment rate: 6.3%
High school education or higher: 77.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.1%
Currently married: 52%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Dilapidated buildings
3. Traffic, roads and parking
4. Public safety
5. Economy and business
5. Property upkeep
Number of public comments: 105
NEWTON, IOWA
Population: 15,579
Median resident age: 39.1
Estimated median annual household income: $40,345
Unemployment rate: 3.4%
High school education or higher: 87%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.7%
Currently married: 58.3%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Traffic, roads and parking
3. Property upkeep
4. Dilapidated buildings
5. Taxes
Number of public comments: 57
OWOSSO, MICH.
Population: 15,173
Median resident age: 34.2
Estimated median annual household income: $32,576
Unemployment rate: 7.5%
High school education or higher: 80.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 12.3%
Currently married: 50.3%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Dilapidated buildings
3. Economy and business
4. Property upkeep
5. Downtown
Number of public comments: 301
SIKESTON, MO.
Population: 16,992
Median resident age: 36.1
Estimated median annual household income: $28,589
Unemployment rate: 7.6%
High school education or higher: 73.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.2%
Currently married: 52.2%
TOP PROBLEMS
1. City council operations and services
2. Public safety
2. Traffic, roads and parking
2. Animals
2. Property upkeep
2. Railroad
Number of public comments: 7
Sources for demographics: U.S. Census Bureau and www.city-data.com